Rockaway Arts Fest happening this summer; Patti Smith reading on opening day

by Wyatt Marshall

Patti Smith in Austin in 2013 (more by Sarah Frankie Linder)

According to Gothamist, to commemorate the reopening of Fort Tilden–closed since Hurricane Sandy–the National Park Service, Rockaway Artists Alliance, Jamaica Bay-Rockaway Parks Conservancy and MoMa PS1 are teaming up to present the Rockaway Arts Fest, an event that will run from late June through Labor Day and feature work from local and “internationally acclaimed artists.” Sounds like a good reason to head out to the beach, but here’s a better one: to celebrate opening day, on June 29 at Fort Tilden’s Gateway National Recreation Area, the organizers are hosting “Rockaway! Opening Day,” a noon-8PM event that will be capped off by a free Patti Smith concert. There’s also an afterparty planned at the Rockaway Beach Surf Club. More info as it becomes available.

UPDATE: Though the Gothamist article mentioned Patti was playing a concert, she’s actually doing a short poetry reading. She also has as a photography exhibition and two onsite installations opening in the park that day.

Meanwhile, you can catch Patti for free this week in Prospect Park as part of the Celebrate Brooklyn Ornette Coleman tribute.

Watch a video of Rockaways supporter and property owner Patti playing there on Thanksgiving 2012 below…

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